June 16, 2026
TOKYO – A human washing machine, which captured public attention at the 1970 Osaka Expo, is expected to go on display at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Taito Ward, Tokyo, after Panasonic Holdings Corp. donated the machine to the museum.
The museum plans to permanently display the machine, describing it as an important exhibit symbolizing a commitment to manufacturing for the future.
During the 1970 Expo, the human washing machine, known as the ultrasonic bath, was exhibited by Sanyo Electric Co. at the Sanyo Pavilion. Measuring 2 meters wide and 1.8 meters high, the machine used ultrasonic waves to generate vast number of microscopic bubbles that cleaned the entire body, a concept regarded as groundbreaking at the time.
Panasonic Holdings showcased the machine at its exhibition facility in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture, after making Sanyo Electric a subsidiary.
Hoping to preserve the legacy of the 1970 Osaka Expo, the company donated the machine to the museum in January following the closure of the aging facility in December.
The museum is dedicated to Japan’s natural history and the history of science and technology, with a collection of about 40,000 industrial products and related materials, some of which are on public display.
AloJapan.com